China is a big supplier of meat biproducts used in anamal food. The trend toward non meat protein feeds has to do with all the reports of chemical contamination in the meat supply. I think that meat will return to feeds once it can be purchased from safer source.

The layer feed we just got is locally sourced, It's 60% crab and salmon meal. It's ground pretty fine so I am watching to see if their is much waste but the hens do love it. They have been busy supplementing by digging through the pile of finished compost, I notice they are picking out and eating all the bits of eggshell.

I automatically keep all my eggshells. I grind them up to a bit coarser than sand and mix it with their food. They pretty much ignore the layena because they free-range so much and eat a lot of bugs and mosquitos and etc. Watching them chase a juicy bug around the garden, then get it, and give a happy cluck - nothing better.

I would LOVE to find feed that cheap. We pay $15.60 for a 50 pound bag. Our mill doesn't do their own layer feed. Wish our mill would do their own feed. I'd buy it.

Here's a question--I'm right with you on the animal protein, but the only feed I could get with animal protein in it is DuMor brand, and honestly, it gives the eggs a musty flavor. Have you ever noticed a difference in egg flavor?

The local feed that's available is Purina's Layena, which is a vegetarian feed. The hens do get to go chase bugs and they do get stuff like leftover pot roast and (looks around furtively) roast chicken.

If you cannot find layer formula, other than the vegetarian nonsense, then you can do this. Feed a 16% veg formula, but richen it with a Game Bird feed of 24% protein. It is very rare that these higher protein formulas are vegetarian, but read those labels folks.

I'm very fortunate to have a local feed mill, some 30 miles away, that still includes animal protein. That it is $19.50 a hundred pound bag doesn't hurt.

Believe me, finding a local (within 50 miles) feed mill that can grind their own feed, at an affordable price, is tough research, but must be done. Rest assured, a small holder who is keeping 500 layers for a food co-op, let's say, sure isn't feeding them bags for expensive Purina or DuMor (same same) from a TSC. One simply cannot afford to feed pre-bagged, retail feed prices and make a nickel on eggs, pasturing or not. The feed costs would drive you out of business.

Sometimes we have as many as 300 birds, on the ground, at our three farms. That's far too many mouths to feed. Right now, with 30 mouths to feed here, and with my wife's small egg business, I cannot pay $18 a 50 lbs. I'd be broke. Unfortunately, our local mill does not grind it's own Grower either. Too bad.

You cannot stop a chicken from wanting animal protein. It'll eat worms, frogs, toads, mice, grubs, bugs, etc all meat. Yes, the egg yolks get a bit stronger, orange in color and tastier. That, to my way of thinking, is what a true farm egg looks like and tastes like.

In most locations, TSC contracts with Purina to make DuMor. In the south central states, they use someone else. DuMor is good feed. Nothing particularly wrong with it. It does lack some "anti-stink" compound that Purina puts into its branded feed. Thus, users of DuMor sometimes complain of the poop's smell, but that is most likely because they are used to feeding a retail feed with the anti-stink agent in it. Don't quote me as to what precisely that agent is, but it is some chlorophyl type food agent that lessens the odor of the excrement. Shrug.

To me? Poop is poop. Yup. Feed certain things and the poop will be a bit stronger. LOL Let them forage your cabbage and broccoli fields for a few days if you want to smell something!

In most locations, TSC contracts with Purina to make DuMor. In the south central states, they use someone else. DuMor is good feed. Nothing particularly wrong with it. It does lack some "anti-stink" compound that Purina puts into its branded feed. Thus, users of DuMor sometimes complain of the poop's smell, but that is most likely because they are used to feeding a retail feed with the anti-stink agent in it. Don't quote me as to what precisely that agent is, but it is some chlorophyl type food agent that lessens the odor of the excrement. Shrug.

To me? Poop is poop. Yup. Feed certain things and the poop will be a bit stronger. LOL Let them forage your cabbage and broccoli fields for a few days if you want to smell something!

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I can only imagine how broccoli makes humans stink, so chickens must be similar

Any poop smells good after you smell a broody poop. That crap should be bottled and used for weapons

Easier said than done for me! I bought Game Bird Conditioner to up the protein but it's all grain. Corn, sorghum, oats, barley, soy. I know soy's not grain but you get the idea.

Is there a key word to look for so I'll know it's got animal protein? Don't you dare say, "animal protein"!

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Couldn't you supplement if you can't find any feed with it?

Directed at Fred's hens for the most part.

I have never even checked if my protein is animal protein. All of my birds are on a high protein grower with lots of oyster shell. I can't keep the babies from getting at the layer, so it's just not for me.